Storage rack and bracket therefor

ABSTRACT

A cantilever storage rack including tubular cantilever arms extending outwardly from an upright primary support. Tubular stringers are supported at the end of the cantilever arms by integral brackets having first and second wings extending perpendicular to each other. The first wing is inserted into the hollow stringer and has a projection extending across the interior opening therewithin. The second wing is inserted into the tubular cantilever arm and a second projection extends across the interior opening within the arm. Another stringer can be supported extending from the other side of the cantilever arm using another such bracket.

D United States Patent [151 3,679,067 Konstant 1 July 25, 1972 541 STORAGE RACK AND BRACKET 2,567,522 9/1951 Moen ..287/54 A THEREFOR 2,936,530 5/1960 Bowen ....287/54 A X 3,028,976 4/1962 Konstant ..108/1 14 [72] Inventor: Anthony N. Konstant, Mount Prospect, lll. 3,255,721 6/1966 peterschmidt" "2| 1/182 X .7 Assignee: Speedrack inc. Skokie 1- 1,408,553 3/l922 Wedemann ..287/54 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. [211 App] No 71 841 Ar!0rneyAnderson, Luedeka, Fitch, Even and Tabin [57] ABSTRACT jlg? A cantilever storage rack including tubular cantilever arms ex. 58] Field 177 tending outwardly from an upright primary support. Tubular 2 stringers are supported at the end of the cantilever arms by integral brackets having first and second wings extending per- [56] References Cited pendicular to each other. The first wing is inserted into the hollow stringer and has a projection extending across the in- UNITED STATES PATENTS terior opening therewithin. The second wing is inserted into the tubular cantilever arm and a second projection extends 2,911,242 11/1959 Blckerstaff ..287/54 B across th int rior opening within the arm. Another stringer 1,44339] 1/1923 Soldat "287/54 B can be supported extending from the other side of the cantil- (lgarllielo 2: ever arm using another Such bracket. 0 er 1,848,085 3/1932 Eisenschmidt ..287/54 B X 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures s y/s GO 5Q 14 I Z ///l// 56 22 36 M46 22*? m/// 54 STORAGE RACK AND BRACKET THEREFOR The present invention relates to brackets and, more particularly, to brackets useful in the rapid assembly of a cantilever storage rack.

Cantilever storage racks are particularly useful in containing merchandise where a minimum of floor space is available for occupancy, such as in a warehouse, or where a relatively large volume or amount of merchandise is to be stored in readily accessible position without regard to the horizontal spacing of the vertical supports or columns or other parts of the rack. Such storage racks are advantageously employed where the utilization of individual cells or compartments of fixed size are undesirable due to the waste or loss of space when the items to be stored are of varying size. Typically, a storage rack of this type is in the form of a plurality of spaced columns fitted with cantilever arms projecting outwardly therefrom, so that columns for supporting the outer edges of the decks are not required. With such a construction, it is possible to provide superposed decks of indefinite length in which the whole length of each deck can be effectively and efficiently utilized. A particularly useful embodiment of such a storage rack is shown in Konstant U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,976.

In providing a cantilever storage rack, it is particularly advantageous to employ stringers at the outer and inner edges of each deck of the rack, in lieu of support columns, to give strength and rigidity to the decks. Each stringer desirably extends transversely to a respective cantilever arm, one at the front or outer end of the arm and one or more on the interior of the deck with one at the junction of the arm with the supporting column. In the assembly of a rack employing stringers, it is desirable to employ assembly devices that enable rapid construction of the storage rack or structure.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved device useful in assembly of the front stringers of a cantilever storage rack to their respective cantilever arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bracket for rapid assembly of a storage rack including a cantilever arm and a front stringer, wherein the bracket readily connects the arm and the stringer without the necessity of employing construction tools.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a cantilever storage rack assembled using brackets embodying various features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a bracket used in the assembly of the storage rack shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of a pair of brackets of the type shown in FIG. 2 in operative position.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a cantilever storage rack or structure generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The storage rack generally includes a plurality of upright trusses or vertical support members 12 (only one of which is shown for clarity) and a plurality of hollow cantilever arms 14 extending outwardly from each upright truss 12 at corresponding elevations. Front and rear stringers l6 and 18 extend between adjacent cantilever arms and additional stringers intermediate therebetween may also be used for additional support. The frontstringers 16 are hollow and connect the outer ends of the cantilever arms 14 at one elevation. A deck 20 rests upon the upper surface of the cantilever arms 14 and their respective front and rear stringers l6 and 18 at a given elevation.

Novel means is provided for connecting the front stringers 16 to the adjacent cantilever arms 14 in the form of a bracket 22. The bracket 22 is adapted to fit into the interior openings in the cantilever arm 14 and the abutting front stringer 16 in order to rapidly connect the stringer to the cantilever arm in the assembly of the storage rack 10. The bracket 22 is particularly useful in the assembly of cantilever storage racks 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1.

The upright trusses or vertical support members 12 of the rack 10 provide primary support for the structure and may be of any suitable form, but each typically includes a pair of perforated columnar members 24 disposed in parallel, vertical relationship and connected by cross-bracing members 26. Each truss 12 is suitably supported as by being disposed within a base (not shown) or by being connected over the aisles to adjacent rows of cantilever uprights or to the roof or the walls of the building.

Cantilever arms I4 for providing secondary support extend outwardly in an horizontal direction from each upright truss 12 at the same elevation to provide a foundation for the horizontal deck 20. The cantilever arms I4 are desirably hollow, tubular steel members having a rectangular cross-section. Although the illustrated cantilever arm 14 is shown extending outwardly from the truss 12 on both sides thereof, it should be understood that the arms 14 can extend outwardly on only one side of the truss However, cantilever arms often extend on both sides of the truss and thus provide a more stable storage rack 10 as merchandise disposed on both sides of the truss 12 tends to balance the respective torques applied to both ends of the arm 14.

The plurality of such cantilever arms 14, each disposed at an equal elevation upon one of the upright trusses l2, define one plane at which a deck 20 can be located. By disposing additional cantilever arms 14 on each truss 12 at other equal elevations thereupon, a plurality of superposed planes are defined. Usually two or three such storage planes are utilized in each storage rack. Each cantilever arm 14 is mounted upon a respective truss 12 by a suitable supporting bracket, such as the cantilever arm bracket 28 shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated bracket 28 is U-shaped, partially circumscribing the arm 14 and being secured at its ends by bolts 30 or the like to the supporting upright truss 12.

The front stringers 16 are disposed transversely to the cantilever arms 14 and are axially aligned along the outer ends of the arms of a given deck 20 to further provide secondary support for the front edge of the deck. The front stringers 16 are preferably hollow, steel tubular members of rectangular crosssection, and each front stringer 16 is of sufiicient length to extend between adjacent cantilever arm 14 at the same elevation. The front stringers l6 and the rear stringers 18 extend substantially perpendicular to the cantilever arms 14 and have their upper surfaces generally flush with the upper surfaces of the supporting cantilever arms 14 to define a planar surface that is covered with a deck 20.

The rear stringers 18 may simply be 2 X 4 inch lengths of lumber and are located adjacent the junctions of the cantilever arms and their respective upright trusses 12. The rear stringers 18 support the rear edges of each deck 20 and are mounted to the cantilever arms 14 by saddle brackets 32. These brackets 32 straddle the arm 14 at the desired location and support a stringer 18 at each side of the arm. Such brackets 32 might also be used to support intermediate stringers. The illustrated saddle bracket 32 is formed from a blank of sheet steel which is punched to provide two rectangular apertures. The blank is folded so that the apertured portions are disposed diagonally and so that the next adjacent portions are inturned to provide horizontal supports for the stringers 16 which reside in each aperture. The ends of the bracket are folded upwardly to provide flanges which lie flush against the side surfaces of the cantilever arms 14. Of course other suitable' brackets might be utilized to join the rear stringers 18 to their supporting cantilever arms 14.

Typically, the deck 20 for supporting the items to be stored upon the rack 10 is fabricated of wood sheathing or the like and is suitably secured to the rear stringers 18 as by nails. However, it is noted that the deck 20 need not be employed where the objects, e.g.,-steel pipes, are of sufficient size that they can rest directly upon the cantilever arms or the stringers.

The preferred embodiment of the bracket 22 for securing each front sm'nger 16 to its respective cantilever arm 14 can best be viewed in FIG. 2. The bracket 22 is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet steel. The bracket 22 has first and second wings 34 and 36 extending at substantially right angles to each other, which wings are planar in form and are equal in dimensions. However, the dimensions of the bracket 22 are directly dependent upon the dimensions of the members to be joined, as will become apparent below, and the wings need not be equal in size in all applications. The first and second wings 34 and 36 have a mutual edge defining a junction 38.

At an edge 40 of the first wing 34, which is opposite to the junction edge 38, the bracket is bent to form an inturned first projection 42 which extends from the first wing 34 in the same direction as the second wing 36. The first projection 42 is planar and rectangular in form, and it is preferably disposed at substantially a right angle to the first wing 34. Accordingly, the first projection 42 is preferably substantially parallel to the second wing 36 and is dimensioned so that it can be received in the rectangular opening in hollow front stringer 16, being for this reason of substantially the same height as the first wing 34.

The second wing 36 has an outturned second projection 46 extending outwardly from its free edge 44 which is opposite from the junction edge 38 where the first and second wings meet. The second projection 46 is planar and rectangular in form and preferably extends at substantially a right angle to the second wing 36, thus being substantially parallel to the first wing 34 while extending outwardly from the second wing 36 in the opposite direction to the first wing 34. For a purpose which will become apparent upon further discussion, the second projection 46 is preferably no greater than about onehalf the height of the second wing 36 as measured along the edge 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the shorter second projection 46 is formed along the upper portion of the edge 44 when the bracket 22 is viewed as oriented in FIG. 2. However, the second projection 46 could alternatively be formed along the lower half of the edge 44.

The use of the bracket 22 in the storage rack 10 is perhaps best seen in FIG. 3. There it can be seen that the first wing 34 and the first projection 42 of the bracket 22 are inserted into the right-hand front stringer 16a. The first wing 34 extends into the interior opening in the hollow front stringer 16a such that it lies generally adjacent an interior wall surface 50 of the stringer. Typically, the first wing 34 is about 4 inches long and about 2% to 3% inches high, the height of the wing depending upon the internal vertical dimension of the rectangular pen ing in the tubular stringer. Hence, the first projection 42 is located a distance of about 4 inches into the front stringer 16a, at which point it extends across the interior opening in the stringer between the wall 50 and an opposite wall 52. The first projection 42 is typically about three-fourths to 1% inches in width and has the same height as the first wing 34. In general, the first projection 42 is proportioned to just easily fit into the opening in the hollow tubular stringer 16a. Preferably, the projection 42 is rectangular in shape and just slightly smaller than the interior opening in the stringer l6a so that engagement of the edges of the first projection against the interior walls of the stringer 16a prevents the bracket 22 from turning in or disengaging from the front stringer when it is supported in place at the end of the cantilever arm 14. If the projection is bent at other than a right angle to the wing 34, it is preferably formed proportionately larger so that it still spans the distance between the interior walls 50 and 52.

Although the first wing 34 and the first projection 42 are located within the interior opening in the front stringer 16a, the second wing 36 is prevented from entering therein as it is wider than the internal width between the walls 50 and 52 of the stringer. Thus, the second wing 36 extends across the opening to the interior of the front stringer 16a and therebeyond. To support the front stringer 160 from the cantilever arm 14, the second wing 36 and the second projection 46 are inserted into the interior opening in the hollow, tubular cantilever arm I4. The second wing 36 may extend into the interior opening in the cantilever arm 14 to a depth of about 4 inches and lies generally adjacent an interior wall 54 of the arm. The second projection 46 may have substantially the same width as the first projection 42 where the cantilever arm 14 and the stringers 16 are made of tubes having similar dimensions and consequently will extend substantially across the interior opening in the arm 14 between the wall 54 and an opposite wall 56. Ifthe projection 46 is bent at other than a right angle to the wing 36, it is preferably formed proportionately larger so that it still spans the distance between the interior walls 54 and 56. Thus, the bracket 22 serves to rapidly and easily connect a front stringer 16 to the cantilever arm 14, and when the bracket is fully inserted into the cantilever arm 14, a very stable connection results.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of the brackets 22 are used to secure a front stringer 16 adjacent each side of the front end of the cantilever arm 14 for those arms 14 located in the central portion of the rack. The bracket 22 is formed such that it can be employed either as shown in FIG. 2 or in a reverse position. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bracket 22 is employed to secure one front stringer 16a to the righthand side of the arm 14; and a second bracket 22 is employed in reverse orientation to secure a second front stringer 16b to the left-hand side of the front end of the same arm 14. The second projection 46 of the right-hand bracket 22 extends across the upper one-half of the interior opening in the cantilever arm 14, between the opposing walls 54 and 56. When the left-hand bracket 22' is inserted into the interior opening in thesame cantilever arm 14, its second projection 46' extends across the lower one-half of the interior opening in the arm 14, and it is aligned in the same plane as the second projection 46 of the first bracket 22. Thus, in the fully inserted position, the second projection 46 of the right-hand bracket 22 lies above and in closely engaging relationship with the second projection 46' of the left-hand bracket 22'.

Should it be desired to further secure the front stringers 16 to the cantilever arm 14, fasteners 60, such as self-piercing, self-tapping screws (FIG. 3) may be driven through the sidewalls 54,56 of the cantilever arm 14 and into the second wings 36,36, respectively. Instead of employing threaded fasteners 60, registering holes might be provided in the sidewalls 54,56 of the cantilever arm 14 and the second wings 36 through which L-shaped locking pins or the like might be inserted to link the brackets 22 to the cantilever arm. To remove the brackets 22 should it be desired to relocate the cantilever arms 14 at a different vertical location, any connection between the decking 20 and the front stringers l6 and any fasteners 60 are first removed. Then, the front stringers 16 are pulled away from the truss 12 to disengage the second wing 36 and the second projection 46 axially from the cantilever arm 14.

The present invention thus provides an improved device useful in rapid assembly and disassembly of a storage structure or rack. The invention further provides an improved bracket for ready assembly of a cantilever storage rack by connecting the ends of corresponding front stringers and cantilever anns of a deck thereof. Still further, the invention provides an improved bracket for the assembly of a storage structure without employing construction tools.

While one specific form of the invention has been shown and described, it should be apparent that various modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of the first and second wings 34 and 36 being disposed at substantially a right angle to one another, the wings could be disposed at a different included angle, thereby allowing the cantilever arm 14 and the respective front stringer 16 to be secured together at that in cluded angle. Moreover, instead of using fasteners 60 to secure the brackets 22 to the cantilever arms 14, the saddles 32 holding the rear stringers 18 may be suitably fastened to the cantilever arms 14. Then, the front stringers 16 are held in place by using decking having a depending flange along its front edge and which is suitably linked to the rear stringers 18 as by nailing or by a similar depending flange along its rear edge.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cantilever storage rack including an upright primary support member, a tubular cantilever arm extending outwardly and supported from said upright primary support member, a tubular secondary support member extending transversely to said cantilever arm adjacent the outer end thereof, and an integral bracket having first and second wings extending at an angle to one another, said first wing having a first projection extending at an angle thereto, said first wing and said first projection being disposed within said tubular secondary support member such that said first wing lies adjacent an interior wall of said secondary support member and said first projection extends across the interior opening within said secondary support member, said second wing having a second projection extending at an angle thereto, and said second wing and said second projection being disposed within said tubular cantilever arm such that said second wing lies adjacent an interior wall of said arm and said second projection extends across the interior opening within said arm whereby said secondary support member is connected to said supporting cantilever arm.

2. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein said first projection and said second wing extend in the same direction from said first wing and at substantially right angles thereto.

3. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein said first wing and said second projection extend in opposite directions from said second wing and at substantially right angles thereto.

4. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein said second projection is no greater than about one-half the height of said second wing.

5. A storage rack according to claim 4 wherein there is also included a second tubular secondary support member in axial alignment with the first-mentioned secondary support member and extending transversely to the outer end of said arm adjacent the opposite side thereof, and a second bracket of similar construction to said first-mentioned bracket, connecting said second tubular secondary support member to the end of said cantilever arm, the second projection of said second bracket extending across the interior opening in said arm in the same plane as but vertically displaced from said second projection of the first-mentioned bracket.

6. A storage rack according to claim 5 wherein said cantilever arm and said tubular support members are rectangular in cross-section, and wherein said first and second projections are rectangular.

7. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to interconnect said second wing of said bracket to said cantilever arm and thereby prevent movement of said second wing out of said arm.

8. A reversible bracket for the assembly of generally tubular members at right angles to a tubular supporting member having a rectangular interior cross section, which bracket comprises a first wing and a second wing formed at a right angle to each other, a first projection extending at substantially a right angle to said first wing and in the same direction therefrom as said second wing, said first wing and said first projection being adapted for insertion into the open end of a generally tubular member extending horizontally from one side of said supporting member, and a second projection extending at a right angle to said second wing, said second wing and said second projection being adapted for insertion into the open end of said supporting member, said second projection being generally rectangular in shape, having a height about half the height of said second wing and being proportioned to occupy approximately one-half of the interior cross-section of said supporting member whereby the second projections from two of said brackets will lie in the same vertical plane when a pair of generally tubular members are assembled to the end of one sugporting member.

. A bracket according to claim 8 wherein said first projection is substantially rectangular in shape and is adapted to support a tubular member having a rectangular cross-section.

* IR l 

1. A cantilever storage rack including an upright primary support member, a tubular cantilever arm extending outwardly and supported from said upright primary support member, a tubular secondary support member extending transversely to said cantilever arm adjacent the outer end thereof, and an integral bracket having first and second wings extending at an angle to one another, said first wing having a first projection extending at an angle thereto, said first wing and said first projection being disposed within said tubular secondary support member such that said first wing lies adjacent an interior wall of said secondary support member and said first projection extends across the interior opening within said secondary support member, said second wing having a second projection extending at an angle thereto, and said second wing and said second projection being disposed within said tubular cantilever arm such that said second wing lies adjacent an interior wall of said arm and said second projection extends across the interior opening within said arm whereby said secondary support member is connected to said supporting cantilever arM.
 2. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein said first projection and said second wing extend in the same direction from said first wing and at substantially right angles thereto.
 3. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein said first wing and said second projection extend in opposite directions from said second wing and at substantially right angles thereto.
 4. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein said second projection is no greater than about one-half the height of said second wing.
 5. A storage rack according to claim 4 wherein there is also included a second tubular secondary support member in axial alignment with the first-mentioned secondary support member and extending transversely to the outer end of said arm adjacent the opposite side thereof, and a second bracket of similar construction to said first-mentioned bracket, connecting said second tubular secondary support member to the end of said cantilever arm, the second projection of said second bracket extending across the interior opening in said arm in the same plane as but vertically displaced from said second projection of the first-mentioned bracket.
 6. A storage rack according to claim 5 wherein said cantilever arm and said tubular support members are rectangular in cross-section, and wherein said first and second projections are rectangular.
 7. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to interconnect said second wing of said bracket to said cantilever arm and thereby prevent movement of said second wing out of said arm.
 8. A reversible bracket for the assembly of generally tubular members at right angles to a tubular supporting member having a rectangular interior cross section, which bracket comprises a first wing and a second wing formed at a right angle to each other, a first projection extending at substantially a right angle to said first wing and in the same direction therefrom as said second wing, said first wing and said first projection being adapted for insertion into the open end of a generally tubular member extending horizontally from one side of said supporting member, and a second projection extending at a right angle to said second wing, said second wing and said second projection being adapted for insertion into the open end of said supporting member, said second projection being generally rectangular in shape, having a height about half the height of said second wing and being proportioned to occupy approximately one-half of the interior cross-section of said supporting member whereby the second projections from two of said brackets will lie in the same vertical plane when a pair of generally tubular members are assembled to the end of one supporting member.
 9. A bracket according to claim 8 wherein said first projection is substantially rectangular in shape and is adapted to support a tubular member having a rectangular cross-section. 